Machine learning for olfactory mood alteration

Abstract

System, method and media for altering the mood of an occupant (such as a driver) of a vehicle. Reckless operation of motor vehicles by emotionally disturbed drivers is a major cause of traffic accidents just like alcohol, drug, and cell phone use. Emotional states such as annoyance, anger, anxiety, depression, and feeling hurried can significantly impair awareness by slowing observation and reaction times. Scents, both pleasant and unpleasant, have major effects on mood and sense of well-being. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention provide for an adaptive system which can detect a driver's mood, disperse an appropriate scent to improve the mood if it is unsafe, and learn the impact of scents on different users to effectively improve their moods.

Description

BACKGROUND1. Field[0001]Embodiments of the invention generally relate to vehicular safety and, more particularly, to techniques for reducing unsafe emotional states in vehicle operators through the use of scent to alter an emotional state unsafe for driving to a safer one.2. Related Art[0002]Reckless operation of motor vehicles by emotionally disturbed drivers is a major cause of traffic accidents just like alcohol, drug, and cell phone use. Emotional states such as annoyance, anger, anxiety, depression, and feeling hurried can significantly impair awareness by slowing observation and reaction times. The ability to determine and foresee what nearby drivers are doing and might do is critical to recognizing and reacting to road hazards such as debris and abrupt slowing of the traffic ahead. Other dangerous maneuvers may include sudden changes in traffic lanes and driving on the freeway shoulder or center divider.[0003]The human sense of smell has a direct link to the limbic system, an...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a system that uses machine learning algorithms to close the loop and learn to classify a driver's mood based on dispersed scents. The system includes cameras in the vehicle to capture facial imagery of the driver, scent dispersion units to disperse scents, a processor, and computer storage media to store profiles for each driver and mood classification information. The system uses initial facial imaging and mood classification information to identify the driver's current mood and then disperse scents based on the mood to change the driver's mood. The system can also update the mood classification information based on the updated facial imaging and mood actuation. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a system that can automatically adjust the driver's mood and create a more pleasant driving experience.

Problems solved by technology

Reckless operation of motor vehicles by emotionally disturbed drivers is a major cause of traffic accidents just like alcohol, drug, and cell phone use.

Other dangerous maneuvers may include sudden changes in traffic lanes and driving on the freeway shoulder or center divider.

Complexity arises, because these effects can be strongly influenced by one's previous experiences and expectations.

Nevertheless, scents are potential mood-altering tools in situations where negative aspects of emotions may contribute to reckless behavior that results in physical injury.

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